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Made in Rome

October 11, 2016 by niajae Leave a Comment

I found a little piece of heaven when I found Made in Rome Bed and Breakfast. I was drawn to it because of the rooftop. I love rooftops but I had no idea how beautiful this rooftop actually was until I saw it in person. It had a direct view of the Colosseum.
You can feel the energy of Rome watching the tourist and people going in and out of the restaurants. It was amazing.

Let me start from the beginning. After my unfortunate experience with the cab drivers I was greeted by the owner of the b&b, Max. He was warm, welcoming and very cute. He helped me up the stairs with my bags. There was an elevator but it was very tiny. In the movie Eat Prey Love, she actually is in Rome and it shows the same type of elevator. I think it’s safe to say it’s the smallest elevator in the world.

My room was very cozy. It had a balcony with stairs that lead to the rooftop. It was perfect!
The wifi was fast which is always a plus when traveling. Max told me about a restaurant that makes it’s own pasta from scratch and a place to get tiramisu that will make you cry. I didn’t actually find the tiramisu place because I got lost walking around but I smile when I think about how Max described it.

The location of the B&B was perfect. I walked to the Colosseum and there were plenty of great restaurants also in walking distance. I ate at a place named Pasta Chef.
Of course I indulged in some pasta completely gilt free because carbs outside of the US don’t count.

Honestly, my apple watch said I took some where around 20 thousands steps per day walking around Italy. So I walked off all of the pasta I ate.

I found the perfect place to have a glass of wine. Oppio Caffe had a great ambiance with a direct view of the Colosseum. I love Italian cafes with outdoor seating. I chatted with a local who didn’t speak any English. I don’t speak Italian so it was entertaining for us to attempt to teach each other words. I tried some type dessert even though I really wanted the tiramisu that was going to make me cry.
I ended the day with some awesome splits in front of the Colosseum.

If you follow me on social media you know I love splits, especially in front of famous monuments.

Made in Rome B&B was everything I expected it to be and more. I highly recommended it to anyone visiting Rome that wants to tour the Colosseum. My last stop in Italy was a contemporary hotel and visiting a place called Trastevere. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss my next post about that!

More pictures of Made in Rome B&B and a video I put together. I hope you enjoy!

The Journey to Rome

September 14, 2016 by niajae Leave a Comment

I decided to take the hi speed train from Venice to Rome for the experience. The process of getting on the train was frustrating. The kiosk wouldn’t take a credit card without a PIN number so I had this stand in a long line to wait for a customer service rep. The employees seemed frustrated and impatient. Once I purchased my ticket it was slightly confusing to know which train I was supposed to get on because the person speaking on the intercom only spoke French. The guys waiting around to help only spoke French as well but was able to look at my ticket and point me towards the right train.

I made it on the train and got as cozy as possible. I have to be honest I slept most of the way but the times I was awake had a mixture of pretty mountains and what looked like the hood of Italy. They had a bar that served food. Which is good because I’m always hungry.

Finally I arrived and was ready to start my Roman adventure. The first person that asked me if I needed a taxi seemed a little suspicious. I told him where I was going and he said 25-28€. I asked him where his taxi was, he said on the corner. Basically it wasn’t in the row of taxis so I didn’t feel comfortable with that situation. I chose a taxi that was in the line of taxis. When I arrived at my destination the meter read only 6€. That guy was going to charge me 25€ for a 6€ trip. That was pretty disappointing. Then to make matters worst the cab driver for the 6€ trip charged me 9€ because he claimed there is a 1€ fee per heavy bag. I had one large bag and one small carry on. You do the math. We exchanged some unfriendly words and a small part of me wished I stayed in Venice for the remainder of my trip.

Once I arrived at my bed and breakfast I explained to my host what happened and he informed me the taxi drivers are crooks and always prepare transportation in advance to ensure you’re not being ripped off. He was very nice and the place was gorgeous. I was back to my high vibrations and ready to continue my trip. I want to dedicate a whole post to my accommodations so check back for that.

A few tips on traveling to Rome, be aware that it’s a little rougher around the edges, in my opinion. Try to prepare a taxi or transportation through your accommodations if possible to avoid being ripped off. I probably would opt for the plane over the train if possible. I took the train for the experience but if I ever travel from Venice to Rome again I would fly. Air France is pretty inexpensive. Rome is definitely worth traveling to, it’s just getting there that was a slight headache.

I couldn’t visit Rome without doing a tour of the Colosseum, which is the biggest tourist attraction. It was thousands of people crowded around this amazing piece of history.

La Dolce Vita

August 30, 2016 by niajae Leave a Comment

From the moment I stepped off the plane, I knew I was going to love Venice. I had to take a water taxi to my bed and breakfast. The water taxi was pretty cool. I still can’t get over the fact that the primary source of transportation is boat. No cars, just walking or getting around by boat.

Water taxi

The bed and breakfast was perfect. It’s new, so the inside was very nice with a pretty bathroom. If you are in Venice I would highly recommend it. AL POZZO DI LUCE VENEZIA. When I arrived at the bed and breakfast I was greeted by a sweet lady named Francesca. I stayed in one of the smaller rooms because it was just me but it was very cozy. Each room has it’s own private bathroom. The owner Alessandra actually went the extra mile to purchase an adaptor for my American plugs. The service was exceptional.

The rooms are different sizes. I had a small one because it was just me.

My room

The guest sat in the dining area and ate the included breakfast together. It was nice being able to speak to guest from other counties.

The location was perfect. It was a very short walk to the water taxi and close to the tourist attraction. Francesca gave me all of the information I needed to get around and she recommended places to eat. I still got lost trying to find everything because the streets all look the same to me but it was fun walking down the narrow streets and across the bridges. The locals were eager to help me. Being an attractive woman I’m sure played in my favor.

After resting and freshening up I went to San Marco, which is one of the big tourist attractions. There are guys that place bird food in your hands and the pigeons will land in your hand to eat the bird food. It was cute at first when one landed in my hand but after the second and third one landed on my arm I said that’s enough, lol. I’m from NY and the pigeons there are not exactly friendly so I was slightly freaked out but it was a fun experience.

I ate dinner at this cute place. Even though they had a ‘tourist’ menu I went for the non-tourist menu. I had the lasagna and it was delicious. I cleaned my plate. Italian food is one of my favorites so I was in heaven.

The next day I spent the morning having a mini photoshoot which drew a lot of attention but I’m no stranger to that. I have purple hair. There was a local that offered to help me get photos on his boat. A free boat ride and photos, why not?

My favorite photo from my short boat ride

The guy who took me for a ride in his boat was a little crazy so not long after pulling off I wondered if it was a good idea. I asked him to take me back, he did and was polite about it. He invited me to the beach but I didn’t go. The next time I visit, I will make my way to the beach.

I walked across the Realto bridge so I can see The Grand Canal. There was construction so I didn’t take any pictures of that.

Walking around Venezia

I walked around San Marco again and found the designer shops. You know me, I must know where the designer shops are. I went into my favorite, Louis Vuitton and the lady that helped me was extremely nice. She explained that it’s cheaper to purchase designer items here. She explained something about the tax and compared prices to the US and it was a huge difference. So if you’re traveling to Italy put some money aside to shop.

I took the water taxi a full circle around Venice to see the whole island. That was great. I was able to see many different houses and hotels. A city on water, it really is something amazing to see.

I connected with a local artist and entrepreneur named Giacomo. His photos are amazing and business ethic is even better. We chatted about photography and business over a spritzer.
His company is Off Beat Venice, offering a unforgettable experience to visitors. If you are ever in Venice, look him up and book a dinner on his boat. You will not be disappointed.

When sitting down for the spritzer, Giacomo pulled out my chair for me. I was awkwardly confused, and admitted to him I’m not used to that. Guys in America typically don’t do that anymore. He said, ‘you’re not in America’. He may have made me blush, just a little. Note to the American men that are still gentleman and practice chivalry, please continue because women love it, especially me!

I quickly learned the popular drink is a spritzer. I had it two ways. One was sparkling wine with ice and lemon. The other was sparkling wine with something orange in it, a slice of an orange and an olive. This way was interesting to me, an olive in wine.

Spritzer with ice and lemon

I was able to catch the sunset over the water which was perfect. This is the moment I fell deeply in love with Venice.

Words can not describe how beautiful the Venetian sunset was. I was able to capture some photos of me with the sunset behind me. I am so in love with these photos. I will be getting them put on a canvas to put on my wall.

After enjoying the sunset I ate dinner at the most amazing Italian restaurant named Al Nuovo Galeon in the Castello, Via Garibaldi area. It’s a outside of the tourist area but so worth it. The energy, the food, the wine. It was perfect.

My experience in Venice was truly magical. There is something warm and romantic about this city and I absolutely adore it! I honestly was sad to leave. I considered not going to Rome so I can stay in Venice the remainder of my trip. I didn’t because I already had non-refundable reservations in Rome but I definitely thought about it.

I can see how life in Venice would be so sweet and why they’ve coined the phrase La Dolce Vita!

Au revoir Paris

August 19, 2016 by niajae Leave a Comment

Leaving Paris was hard. I sat at the airport and thought about how a little part of me wants to run away to Paris to become a glamorous burlesque dancer and have lunch at Maison Blanche Paris once a week. How can my life ever be the same after experiencing such awesomeness?

My final thoughts on Paris…

It’s expensive. This is not the place you want to travel on a budget, in my opinion. But it’s totally worth the trip. Learn some basic French because not that many people speak English and even if they do, understanding how they pronounce things will make the trip easier.

The food was okay, but nothing that blew me away. I was much more impressed by the burlesque dancers then the food and I’m a huge foodie.
Go see shows! No one suggested I see a show which is weird to me. It was one of my favorite things about the trip. I do have a background in music and dance so I’m into that type of thing more than the average person.
Seeing the Eiffel Tower at night is a must! It sparkles for about 4 minutes at 10, 11 and 12. The whole city seems to come alive at night. It’s beautiful.
Don’t get hustled. There are a lot of people asking for money and the bike guys will rip you off if you let them. Go sit by the water and have a picnic. You can have alcohol outside of the bars and restaurants. Buy a bottle of wine and enjoy the beautiful view.

Taking a cab everywhere was expensive so try to take the train and save money. The metro runs pretty fast, similar to NY. The driving is crazy. I wouldn’t rent a car and drive there, personally.
There’s a beach. I didn’t go however, it’s nice to know it’s there and that will be something I check out when I visit again.

It’s easy to say I fell in love with Paris.

My next stop, Italy. Just so everyone knows, I love me some pasta and Italian food! Italy was a must! I’ve wanted to visit Italy for a long time.

Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any of my juicy details from my Italy trip!

Au revoir Paris!

Finding the Glamour

August 8, 2016 by niajae 4 Comments

It was important to me to eat some authentic French food while in Paris. I told my waiter I wanted to try the most popular dish. From what I understood, lamb is really popular. There was another name in French, but in English I order sliced lamb with fried potatoes and salad. I also had a glass of white wine.

French dish

The next day I decided to take a tour to all of the monuments on one of those bike carriages that are all over the place. I found a young, spunky driver that blasted music so he was perfect for me. After taking me to the best places for pictures with the Eiffel Tower, Musee du Louvre and a few other places he dropped me off at Pizza Pino. He explained the food was really good right before over charging me for my tour. I heard it’s common for tourist to be over charged.

Pizza Pino

The waiters kept coming over, smiling and asking me where I’m from. Everyone was friendly and the place was really busy. The pizza was pretty good. The wine was good also. I had to try the wine, of course.

Pizza and wine in Paris

After dinning at Pizza Pino I decided to explore the area that the bike driver who over charged me, claimed is the best in Paris. There were awesome stores and the further I walked the better they got. There was a multi-level Abercrombie and Fitch store that looked like a castle. I don’t shop there but the exterior looked so fancy I had to go inside. It was gorgeous. Who knew Abercrombie and Fitch had it like that in Paris? It’s definitely worth checking out if you shop there. The inside is breathtaking.

I decided to keep walking a little further and there it was! The glamour!!! Everything I envisioned Paris to be! Designer shops, fancy people carrying nice handbags and things just seem to sparkle. I didn’t actually go in any stores because I was sweaty and gross from my tour. My all white outfit now had dirt spots because of the splits in front of the monuments we visited. So I just admired the luxury from the outside. I walked pass the Harry Winston store and there was a 5 star hotel attached to it in a world of its own. The balconies had these bright red flowers on them that just made the whole street come alive.

The Hotel Plaza Athénée is a historic luxury hotel in Paris

This is what I pictured when I pictured Paris. It was just as fabulous as I imagined. I had to stop and ask where the Christian Louboutin store was and they told me it was closed for the day but it was in the opposite direction. Because I was exhausted from the tour I chose to not turn around and leave that to be one reason to return to Paris.

I continued down this luxurious street. At the end of the block, I look up and it’s the Eiffel Tower. I stopped at a restaurant for a glass of wine and to rest my feet before I journeyed back to my hotel. Chez Francis sat on the corner and I people watched while I enjoyed my wine. I love the diversity in Paris.

Wine at Chez Francis

After my glass of red wine I continued walking. At this point the sun was setting and I didn’t want to just catch a cab back to my hotel. I wanted to soak up every bit of Paris possible. I found more beautiful places to take pictures and do splits in front of, of course.

Once it got dark, it was time to head back. As I walked along the water something said turn around, and I’m so glad I did. The Eiffel Tower sparkled and glittered and it was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my life. I actually said out loud, ‘I can’t believe my eyes’. Anyone who knows me, knows I love glitter, sparkles, bling, and anything that glistens basically. So to see the entire Eiffel Tower sparkle and light up, it was dreamy! I tried to capture it on video but the video did it no justice. This is definitely something you have to see in person.

I knew it! I knew Paris was absolutely glamorous! Once I tapped into the glam vibe everything started presenting itself. The next day I came across a really popular show called the Crazy Horse. It’s a burlesque show. I love burlesque. I considered going to see Moulin Rouge but after looking at the previews for both shows, Crazy Horse definitely was my choice. Now this show is a little riské but hey, it’s Paris.

As soon as the cab pulled up I knew I was going to love it! It had a red carpet and huge bright red glittery lips in front of it.

Crazy Horse red carpet

The inside had low red lighting to set the mood and the stair cases had lights on them that made them sparkle. We’ve established how much I love some sparkle. I was fortunate to have a front row seat. It’s totally because I tapped into the glam vibe.

Blurry cell phone picture but I had to show the sexy ambiance

I absolutely loved the show! The curtains were sparkly, there were bottles of champagne being popped every other minute. This was the glamour and luxury I was waiting for in Paris. The girls were gorgeous, the dancing was impressive, the costumes were great… Well, what little costumes they had on. Just a heads up, they get nude. If you’re shy about that kind of thing, this is not the show for you. There were two guys that tap danced in the middle of the show and even that was phenomenal. They didn’t get nude, don’t worry. I enjoyed the show from beginning to end.

After leaving the show I had to see the Eiffel Tower glisten one last time. A local informed me it happens every hour after 10pm. So I was able to catch it twice! It was amazing each time. I held my hand over my heart taking in the beauty and the local asked me are you okay? ‘Yes’, I replied. ‘It’s just so beautiful’. I’m sure he’s used to it but I can’t imagine it ever getting old.

There were people lined along the water partying and drinking at the bars. It was great. I could not have asked for more in this trip. The history, the glamour, the wine, the entertainment. It was perfect. I love Paris! I definitely will be back. Hopefully with money to shop and some French lessons under my belt. I’m so glad I found the glamour!

: Louis Vuitton

: YSL

: Dolce & Gabbana

: Beautiful restaurant with perfect view of the Eiffel Tower

: Chanel

: Versace

: Fendi